Cattle guard



Sept. 2 4, 1935. E. c. ROGERS 2,015,317

CATTLE GUARD Filed March 6, 1934' 5 Sheets-Sheet l Iriventor E. C.ROGERS Sept. 24, 1935.

CATTLE GUARD Filed March 6, 1.934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Sept. 24,1935. E. c. ROGERS CATTLE GUARD Filed March 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved cattle guard for use in connectionwith the rails of a conventional railroad track.

Needless to say the art to which the invention relates is already welldeveloped and characterized by numerous types and forms of so-calledcattle guards. Therefore, the need for a cattle guard is well'recognizedand established, but so far as I have been able to ascertain fromresearch and observation the prior structures now proposedfor this taskfail to measure up to the explicit standards and requirements forequipment of this classification.

' Without attempting to give a general survey of the presest state ofthe art I merely desire to introduce my invention as one-possessed ofcertain appreciable refinements and comparative structural differencessuch as, it is believed, will enable it to transcend in efiiciency andperformance those structures with which I am at pres- 'The principalimprovement is predicated upon the particular construction of thebarrier and the way in which it is suspended for swinging or shiftablemovement on fixtures or devices attaching the several barriers to therail so that there will be one between the rails and two complementalones on the outside of the rails.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and drawings:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the general or complete ensemble showingthe three grids in relative operative relationship in respect to therails and illustrating other features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken approximately on the plane ofthe line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and are transverse sectional views taken on the planes ofthe lines 33, 4--4 and 55 of Figure 1 respectively.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of certain of the parts, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing one of theattaching and hanger units or devices.

Referring now to Figure 1 it will be observed that the conventionalrails are denoted by the numerals 8 and that there are three grid-like.Tbarriers or open work grates associated therewith. The two outsidegrates are denoted by the numerals 9 and the inside or intermediate onesby the numeral I0. The latter grate is located between the rails and thetwo grates 9 are located on the outer sides of the rails or tracks. Each5 grate construction is the same and a description of one will sufiicefor all. With this thought in mind it will be observed that each deviceincludes a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal side members or runnersll between which are de- 10- tachably mounted triangular cross pieces ortreads l2. The members [2 are preferably separably bolted to the siderunners so as to permit replacement whenever necessary or desired. Theparts may be of wood, if found suitable. It is also noted that thepointed apex portions of the cross pieces l2 are disposed upwardly so asto present a knife-like edge not calculated to induce walking of cattlethereon.

The principal novelty of the invention is predicated not so much uponthe particular construction of the devices 9 and II] as upon the meanswhereby these devices are movably attached to and suspended in elevatedrelationship with respect to the cross ties I 3 and the track rails. Itis important to note that while these devices 9 and H] are disposed inhorizontal planes they must be supported at points elevated upon theroad bed and ties so as to insure proper clearance for longitudinalswinging and to guard against retarding the movement of these devicessuch as is intentional to induce animals not to attempt to walk thereonbecause of the unreliable footing assured.

I will describe first the units of adapters I4 (see Figure 7) used foroperatively attaching the swingable grate l 0 between the rails 8. Thisunit is made from strap iron or metal having a substantially U-shapedportion wherein the vertical part l5 thereof is bolted or otherwisefastened to the web of the rail and the lower arm Ifi extended downagainst thebase flange of the rail to function as a. stabilizingportion. The upper portion or arm ll of this U-shaped part is providedwith an upstanding extension l8 which may bedescribed as an upright andthis is provided at its top with a hanger loop or link IS with which adepending suspension member 20 is pivotally connected. This suspensionmember is in turn pivotally connected at its lower end between a pair ofattaching ears 2| on a connecting bolt 22 which is connected with theadjacent runner of the swingable guard or grate. By using a set of fouror more of these attaching and hanger units l4 it is obvious that theguard can be suspended swingably between the track rails and hung in anelevated position above the cross ties to provide the requisiteclearance and to at the same time promote unobstructed oscillatory orswinging motion of the guard such as is calculated to frustrate anattempt of cattle to walk thereon.

The two outer guards or grates 9 are suspended in very much the samemanner. For sake of clearness, however, I desire to describe theseattaching and hanger devices separately. Each device is denoted anddifferentiated by the numeral 23 and comprises an elongated metal strap24 having its outer end bent up to provide an upright 25 and having itsinner end bent up to form a similar upright 26 with the last named endportion shaped to correspond to the features l5, l6 and I! of the deviceshown in Figure '7 whereby to facilitate bolting to the web of the trackrail. These uprights 25 and 26 are pro-' vided with hanger loops H! withwhich the parts 20 and 22 cooperate in the manner already described.

The principal idea is in the provision of metal strap like adapter unitsconstructed for rigid connection with the Web. portions of the rail andincluding hanger means terminating in planes below the ball or tread ofthe track rails so as to insure proper wheel flange clearance, togetherwith the suspension members 20 and bolts 22 for completing the assemblyand operative relationship of parts.

I call attention at this time to the numerals 2'! which designate whatmay be conveniently denoted as two-way equipment lifting devices. Theseare in the form of substantially semicylindrical hollow metal shells ofappropriate height bolted to theties by attaching ears 28 and located atopposite ends of the guard or grate In. The crown portions of theselifting devices 2'! are disposed in a plane slightly above the plane ofthe guard itself and the purpose is to pick up any hanging equipmentsuch as might be carried by the rolling stock, irrespective of thedirection of movement of the train, so as to prevent damaging the guardor allowing said hanging devices to get caught in the guard. Obviouslyshould a beam or the like be hanging from one of the cars as it passesover the guard it will be picked up by either one of the lifting devices27 and the speed of movement of the train will act to throw the beam upfor a period sufficiently long to cause it to clear the guard, which inthe average case is eight to ten feet in length.

Generically stated the principal novelty of the invention is predicatedupon the provision of a grid-like guard or open work grate which isutilized between or on opposite sides, or both of the track rails, andto provide means attachable to the web portions of the track rails forconnecting the guard by movable suspension elements and to allow theguards to swing back and forth between the rails at points spaced abovethe cross ties. Thus, in a sense I have evolved and produced a movablebarrier which is itself constructed to guard against stepping of cattlethereon and which because of its automatic shifting movement tends tofrustrate the stepping of cattle thereon. This is due to the fact thatit provides insecure footing and causes the animal to be shy andwithdraw when once he finds that it is not safe to walk on the guard.Considering the triple assembly of guards it will be observed that oneis mounted rnovablybebelieved to be found in the structure depicted inthe drawings accompanying this application.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connectionwith the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a pair ofspaced parallel track rails, pairs of opposed duplicate brackets securedsolely to said rails and including inwardly offset uprights havinghangers mounted thereon, a guard of open work construction locatedbetween the rails, and suspension links pivotally connected with saidhangers and guards whereby to movably suspend the guard between therails.

2. An attaching unit for movably supporting a guard between track railscomprising a metal strap including a U-shaped portion, a part thereofbeing adapted to be bolted to the web of the rail with the lower portionadapted to rest on the base flange of the rails, the upper portion beingprovided with an upright, a loop like member attached to the upright andconstituting a hanger, a suspension member pivotally connected to anddepending from said hanger, a bolt for attachment to a guard, said boltincluding spaced ears pivotally and detachably connectable with thelower end of said suspension member.

3. In a structure of the class described, a pair of longitudinallyspaced guard supporting devices, each device embodying a strap adaptedto extend at right angles to the track rail, the outer end thereof beingbent upwardly to define an upright, the inner end being bent forattachment to the Web of the rail and including an upright, loop likehanger devices connected to the upper ends of said uprights, suspensionmembers pivotally connected to and depending from said hanger devices,and an open work grid-like guard attachable at its opposite end to saiddepending suspension members in the manner and for the purposesdescribed.

4. The combination with a railroad track embodying a pair of spacedparallel track rails of no less than three cattle guard gratings, atleast one grating positionedoutside of each track rail and at least oneother grating between the track rails, and swingable suspension meansconnecting the gratings solely with the track rails adapted for rockingthe gratings under the weight of vagrant cattle.

5. The combination with a railroad track embodying a pair of spacedparallel track rails of no less than three complementary rectangularcattle guard gratings, at least one grating posi-' tioned outside ofeach track rail and at least one other grating between the track rails,said grat- 75,;

ings being spaced from the track rails to provide clearance for vehiclewheels running on the track rails, supporting brackets solely connectedwith the track rails. and swinging arms pivotally connecting thegratings with the brackets to impart a rocking movement to the gratingsunder the weight of vagrant cattle.

6. The combination with a railroad track embodying a pair of spacedparallel rails of a cattle guard grating, and swingable suspension meansrockably connecting the grating solely with one of the track railswhereby the grating may expand 5 and contract with the rail.

EDWARD C. ROGERS.

